Being a master of making moves, Matsuri was completely unused to sweating it out. Mainly because Harumi had used an unexpected move that left her usually calculating brain sputtering.
Harumi was holding her hand.
The fact that they were watching a wrestling match in Harumi's living room allowed her some time to regain her bearings immediately after it happened and review what allowed the youngest Taniguchi to get the upper hand in this situation so easily.
Matsuri's first mistake was putting her hand so carelessly on the seat cushion between them. She had assumed she was in safe territory since Harumi's grandma was also in the room with them, creaking away in her rocking chair on Matsuri's other side as she also watched the wrestling match on the screen.
That was her second grievous mistake when it came to strategy; Old ladies made Matsuri nervous, and not because of your typical reasons. Old people were fucking shrewd, and she regarded them with the respect one would give a sleeping lion.
So her third mistake was underestimating what Taniguchi Jr was capable of doing while in the old lady's presence. Sweating nervously, Matsuri went with her usual knee-jerk reaction of trying to ruin the situation.
"Wow, Taniguchi-senpai, you must really like–"
Grandma Taniguchi sharply shushed Matsuri, instantly snapping her mouth shut. Harumi smirked in victory, and Matsuri wondered if this was a coordinated effort, or if she had underestimated Harumi. Admittedly, this wouldn't be the first time she had. The fact that Harumi was constantly surprising her was what kept Matsuri coming back.
Trapped between two Taniguchis, (not her ideal scenario of a Taniguchi sandwich) Matsuri decided this wasn't a total defeat, and with a blush that was brighter than she liked, griped Harumi's hand back.